Woman dead, man missing in Greenville after being swept away by flash flood

Record rainfall floods area

Bridge washed out

Two people suffered minor injuries when their cars tumbled into a hole left when a small bridge was washed out in Greer. The bridge is near the intersection of Memorial Ext. and Tryon Street in Greer. Crews were on site on Aug. 10 removing the cars.

ALEX C. HICKS JR./alex.hicks@shj.com

From staff and wire reports

Published: Sunday, August 10, 2014 at 10:52 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, August 10, 2014 at 10:52 p.m.

While the rain total at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport set a record for Saturday, it was still far less than in some areas of neighboring Greenville County.

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Flash flood warnings were issued for the Upstate Saturday night. John Tomko, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service at the airport said 1.86 inches of rain fell at GSP, which broke the old record for Aug. 9 of 1.46 inches set in 2012.

According to the weather service, a thunderstorm formed about 10 p.m. and dumped 5 to 6 inches in some areas. Almost 7 inches of rain fell in northern Greenville County, Tomko said.

Two people suffered minor injuries when their cars tumbled into a hole left when a small bridge was washed out in Greer near the intersection of Memorial Drive Extension and Tryon Street.

Greenville County authorities responded to numerous calls due to flooding Saturday night. A woman died and the man she was with is missing after they were swept away by flash floods in Greenville.

A witness saw the couple get out of their car in rising flood waters near Haywood Mall around 11 p.m. Saturday, then get pulled off their feet and into a storm pipe, Greenville County Coroner Parks Evans said. Their names have not been released.

The woman's body was found by rescue crews Sunday morning about one and a half miles downstream in Laurel Creek, Evans said. The man had not been located Sunday.

The flooding also shut down Interstate 85 in Greenville for a few hours.

The Reedy River in downtown Greenville went from just under 3 feet as the rains began to nearly 11 feet in a few hours. Flood stage is 9 feet.

The storms also caused some flooding in Anderson County, but no major damage was reported.

Areas of downtown Columbia flooded Saturday evening after 3 inches of rain fell, and heavy rains and high tides led to flooding in Charleston.

Tomko said the wet and cool weather pattern will persist, with showers and thunderstorms possible through Tuesday night.

<p>While the rain total at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport set a record for Saturday, it was still far less than in some areas of neighboring Greenville County.</p><p>Flash flood warnings were issued for the Upstate Saturday night. John Tomko, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service at the airport said 1.86 inches of rain fell at GSP, which broke the old record for Aug. 9 of 1.46 inches set in 2012. </p><p>According to the weather service, a thunderstorm formed about 10 p.m. and dumped 5 to 6 inches in some areas. Almost 7 inches of rain fell in northern Greenville County, Tomko said.</p><p>Two people suffered minor injuries when their cars tumbled into a hole left when a small bridge was washed out in Greer near the intersection of Memorial Drive Extension and Tryon Street. </p><p>Greenville County authorities responded to numerous calls due to flooding Saturday night. A woman died and the man she was with is missing after they were swept away by flash floods in Greenville.</p><p>A witness saw the couple get out of their car in rising flood waters near Haywood Mall around 11 p.m. Saturday, then get pulled off their feet and into a storm pipe, Greenville County Coroner Parks Evans said. Their names have not been released.</p><p>The woman's body was found by rescue crews Sunday morning about one and a half miles downstream in Laurel Creek, Evans said. The man had not been located Sunday.</p><p>The flooding also shut down Interstate 85 in Greenville for a few hours.</p><p>The Reedy River in downtown Greenville went from just under 3 feet as the rains began to nearly 11 feet in a few hours. Flood stage is 9 feet.</p><p>The storms also caused some flooding in Anderson County, but no major damage was reported.</p><p>Areas of downtown Columbia flooded Saturday evening after 3 inches of rain fell, and heavy rains and high tides led to flooding in Charleston.</p><p>Tomko said the wet and cool weather pattern will persist, with showers and thunderstorms possible through Tuesday night.</p>